Echinacea angustifolia

Echinacea angustifolia DC.

Black Samson, Black Samson Echinacea, Narrow-leaf Coneflower

Synonym(s):

The many stout stems of this perennial are 18-24 in. tall and rarely branched. Oblong leaves are covered with stiff hairs. The flower heads, borne singly atop the stems, have pinkish-lavender rays drooping from a dark, spiny, cone-shaped center.

Echinacea angustifolia tends to look poorly in its native habitat but often thrives in cultivation.

Benefit

Use Medicinal: Vit. A, Vit. C, Vit. E, copper, iodine, iron, potassium, sulphur.
Medicinal uses: Today Echinacea used to boot the immune system. It is believed to ward off colds and the flu. But at high doses, the effectiveness decreases. Recent studies show that Echinacea may have anti-inflammatory properties and be useful in a wide variety of areas. Native Americans used Echinacea to treat snakebites, burns, toothaches, colds, sore throat, headache, gonorrhea, mumps, tonsillitis, and smallpox (when mixed with puffball spores and skunk oil).
Early settlers used it for almost every ailment. The juice from the plant can prevent burns. Root (chewed or in tea) used for snake bites, spider bites, cancers, toothaches, burns, hard-to-heal sores, and wounds, flu and colds. (Foster & Duke)
Universal application for the bites and stings of all bugs; also snakebites, toothache, mumps; washed hands in decoction of plant in order for them to withstand heat; decoction of roots for snakebite and hydrophobia. (Weiner)
Macerated root used for snakebite, stings and venomous bites, including hydrophobia. Ate root and green fruit when thirsty or perspiring and as painkiller for toothache, tonsillitus, stomachache and pain in bowels. Macerated root used as local anesthetic. Root used as cough medicine. Colds and sore throat treated by chewing piece of root and letting juice run down the throat. Tea made of leaves and root as a remedy for sore mouth and gums. Tea used for rheumatism, arthritus, mumps and measles. (Kindscher) Conspicuous Flowers: yesAttracts: Butterflies Nectar Source: yesDeer Resistant: No